Lock-out switch for party telephone-lines.



'J. G. ROBERTS.

LOCK-OUT SWITCH FOR PARTY TELEPHONE LINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY26,1906.

lywmgmao rW-{ I Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. G. ROBERTS. LOCK-OUT SWITCH FOR PARTY TELEPHONE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A J. G. ROBERTS.

LOCK-OUT SWITCH FOR PARTY TELEPHONE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1906.

l,@57',5@, Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3,

- in question "Finn i i MHY'W mm "34 iiiiii ie ir s ii) @ii JOHN G.ROBERTS,

PANY, GF CI-IICAGQ, ILLINQIS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLHG'GIS, ASSIG-NOR Ti} WESTERN ELEGTRIC COI2I- ACQBPGRATIOW F ILLENQIS.

LUCK-OUT JITCH EE'GR 'EEI'LEEEflNE LEWET 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L Jenn ROBERTS? citizen of the i l nitcd States,residing at: Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois. haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lock-Gut Switches forFarty Tielephone-Lines, of "which the following is :1V full, clear,concise, anti Bf-7516i description.

My im -entio-n relates to lockout switch for party telephone lines,anti. has for its object to provide an improved and simplified devicewhereby any two or more stations of a party line may be connected forconversation to the exclusion (it-other stetions on the line.

tienerailv so my invention con tein 'ilates a ijaivitcl'iingz, Pie/vicecomgifising electromagznct adapted to advzuice a ratchet, togg etl'ierwith contact mechanism adapted to ie operated and locked by mechanicalmeans actuated said magnet, after the ratchet has been advanced anredeteroiineii distance, the Contact mechanism being automaticallyreleased when the ratchet; is returned to no!- inai positioi'i. Y

The switch of my invention, as preterahly onstrnctccl, is provided witha polarized electrmnagnot adaptcfi when supplied with currentoipreilcterinini-id direction to advance 2i ratchet, which as it leavesnew real posit-ion, opens the talking circuit of the station where thesameis located. When the ratchet: has been arlvzinccd a number of stopscorresponding to the station where it. is located, mechanical means areplaced in con. (lit-ion to be operated by the magnet when given animpulse of current of the opposite direction to release aspring-actustcct arm', which closes and locks switch springs to cnnplete the talking circuit of the station The ratchet may he then a lvanceci to the end of its movement, and at the termination ofconvcrsa'tion hy applying to the magnet an impulse of current; of thesame direction. as that inst referred to, the ratchet is released, andreturns to nor: mal position, restoring the saiC to normal condition,

a fl pecifieatioxi of Electors anti opening the switch intent.

Ayn it Anglication filed 3' My 26, 1906 lilo springs, and also closingthe normally exist ing talking circuit 1 wil describe my invention moreportion larly byreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1is a front elevation of a locking switch embodying my invention; Fi 2 isa side elevation thereof; i 3 is pion sectional view on line 33 of 1;Fig, is a plan sectionalview on line i eto" l8 5 1; Fig. 5 is afragmentary cietoii view; i 6 is a'din illustrating a circuit; in

rny improved switch may employed.

illie same letters of reference indicate the some parts wherever theyare shown;

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, o poiarizcot ino gnetlis provicieciwith a tiiting armature 3 carrying an. min 3 upon ivliicn mounted a.stepping pawl for a ratchet, 5 The ratchet, ween in normal position,engages contact spring (3 which is mounted upon, but insulated from theframe of the device,

and also engages a; contact post 7 carried by,

but insulated from, theatre-me Mounted upon the same shaft, with theratchet 5 is a disk 8, having a notch or groove 9 in its peripheryadapted when the atcliethas been advanced a number of stepscorrespoiniing to the station where the switch is located, to receive apin 10 carrie61 by a (log 1' pivotally connected to one enti of a lever12 which is pivoteii Eu. approximately its central point to the frame ofthe device. ThFf'rce end of the (log 11 carries ii book 13 adapted whenthe dog 11 falls, due to the pin 10 riding: into the groove 5) of disk8, to assume a position, with relation to a pin 14 carried by a steppingpawl 4, such that when the magnet l isgiven a reverse impulse of currentof a direction to move the arm 3 backward or to the right in Fig 1 saidpin engages the hooker-latch.

13 and moves the (log 11 torock theiever 12 on its nivot.

The lower end of the lever is prov. i with a groove or cut-away portiontown 1;:

a shoulder lii upon whirl: norinaiiy re. s a pin it) carrier} by apivoted arm 7, v-Jhich is coni'iectcii. :it its opposite C3114]: an aspring 18 secured to the frame of the device. Said arm 17 isadapted'when the pin 16 is disengaged from the-shoulder of lever 12,

upon the rocking of lever 12 as previously I described, to be moved byspring 18 to cause ,an insulating button 19 carried thereby to force aspring 20 into engagement with contact anvils 21-22; these may, controlthe connection of the subs cribers telephoneset with the line. Theratchet 5'wh1le at the limit of its forward movement engages aninsulated contact spring 7 carried by the frame.

A release finger 23 is mounted upon a pin position to. be engaged bythe, pin 14 of the 0' the retaining pawl fromengagement witii' pawl 4when the magnet is given an im-v pulse of current infthe same directionas the impulse previously referred to'for rocking .thea'rm 3. Whenthearm '3 is thus moved to the right the pin 14 rocks the finger 23.

on its axis and causes-the same to engage a pin 27 carried by thespringactuated'retainf ing pawl 28 of ratchet 5', thereby-movin I theratchet 5 and permitting the same to r'ea turn to normal position. Asthe ratchet ap preaches normal position the pin 25 thereof rides alongan inclined lip 29 carried by the pivoted arm 17 and moves the same topermit the separation of thee rings 20,21, 22, and. the engagement ofpin-16 of said arm 17 withthe shoulder 15' of the lever'.12.

Upon the returner the stepping pawl 4 to normal position, the releasetonormal position.-

Referring now to Fig. 6, I' will describe the o'perationof my improvedlocking switch in connection with a party telephone'line finger '23falls eystem The telephone set at, each station 1s normally inoperativerelation tothe limbs 31,

32, of the line, which extend to a springjack 33 and line drop 34 m: thecentral office, A hand generator [.39 isprowded at each station normally'm a circuit extending from the pole 35 of saidgenerator through normally closed conta'cts of key-36, to contact 6, which is normallyengagement with the ratchet 5, a'nd thence by way of conductors 37,38,to limb 32 of the line,- through the line drop '34, and'back over limb3.1 of the line, conductors 38, 39,- through cpntact'sof keyht to thepole 40-015 the 'ringmgfgenen' ator. A subscriber of a party linedesiring to secure a connection with another subscriber, first operatesthe hand generator 30 at his station'to display the target of the i Iline annunciator at the central office. 1 The tors 42, 43, of. her cord.circuit, with the limbs 31, ,32', of the line. She thereupon depressesher answering key 44 whereupon substation extendingovei' limb 3'1,conductors 38, 45, switch lever, secondary Wind-.

conductor 46, thence to contact 7, which is normally in engagement with,the'ratchet '37, 38, to the otherlimb 32 of. the line.

vW's will assume that subscriber at sta the same line. The operator,after receiv r' brushes 48, .49, of an interrupter 50 with the face of'the interrupter by means of a suitable magnetic clutch or the'like. Theconstation of the party line; "A ke. 58 is provided for each static'adapteffwhen d e pressed'to be locked in L'uch conditionby the armature59 of a magnet 60.

pair of contacts 51, 52, which represent sta tion No. 1, acircuitiiscompleted from the brush 48,- link conductor 42, limb 31 ofthe line, conductor 38,. at' hll the stations of of the lockingswitches, baclr/tolimb 32 of the line, link eo'nduct@ 43,contact brush49,

battery The magnets 1 atall' the stations will thereupon operate toadvance operator, seeingtlie signal displayed, in-I, serts heranswering-plug 41 in jack 33 of the line and thereby connects the linkconduc- 'wheel 5, and thence by way of conductors tion No.1 of the partyline desires to'converse with subscriber, at station No! 2' of ingtheorder of subscriber at station-.1, re- 'moves'plug-41 from; thespring-jack 33, inserts therein the mate plug 41 -.andoperates. the keys58 representing said. stations. She then vactuates her key47 to startthe'brush'es [48, 49. This 'key 47 connects. contact the line,through-fillspolarized magnets 1" conductors 52 to the negative pole ofthe her telephone set is connected withthe limbs j 31', 32, of the.line, the" talking circuit at the I ing of theinduction coil, telephonereceiver,

limbs"31, 32, of-the line, and also starts said i brushes rothting overthe contacts on the tact brushes 48,- 49, their movemenuengage pairs ofcontacts 51-, 52', contacts 51. whereof are connected with, the positivepole of a: battery 53, while the contacts 52 areconneeted withv the.negative pole .of said 1' battery; Between each painof. contacts 51, J52,is located apair of contacts 5455, the contacts 55'being connectedwith thejposie tive pole ofbattery, while the contacts 54 are connectedwith conductors 56 leading. through .normally open contacts 57 of keys58 to the negative pole ofbattery53. A. set

of said contacts54, 55, is provided: for each stationfthe contactsrepresenting. each star" tion. being placed in position to be engaged Mby thecontact brushes after the same have engaged the numberofpairs'of-contacts51, 52, corre sponding' to the number of such;

' When the, brushes 48, 49, engage the first I I I 120,

positive pole of battery 53- to contact'51,v

iso

jug the ratchets their'ratchets 5 one step. it will now be seen that atstation No. 1 the pin 10 rests in the groove 9 of segment 8, and thelatch 18 of dog 11 is in position to be engaged by the pin 14 When themagnet receives a reverse impulse. The contact brushes 4%, 49, nexteigage the terminals ,54, 55, Which represent station No. 1, whereuponcurrent flows from the positive pole of battery 53, through contacts 55,brush 49, link conductor 43, limb 32 of the line, through conductor S8,and magnet 1 at each of the stations, back to limb 31 of the line, linkconductor 42, brush 48, terminal 54, through contacts 5'? of lrey 58, tothe negative pole of battery The magnet l of all the-stations nowreceives an impulse of current in the opposite direction to thatrequired for advancbut since only at the switch at station 1 is the dogin position to be engaged by the pin 14 of stepping pawl 4, the talkingcircuit of station 1 will be the only one completed. The (log 11 atstation 1 is therefore moved by pawl 4 to efi'ect the release of arm.17, which is now moved by spring 18 to close contact springs 20, 2 22.

The contact brushes 48, 49, next engage the second set of terminals 51,52, and the magnets 1 Will receive current of a direction to cause thesame to advance their ratchets one step; and as the brushes 48, 49,engage the terminals 54, 55, representing station No. 2, a reverseimpulse Will be sent through the magnets just as previously described tocause the closure and'locking of springs 20, 21, 22, at stat-ion 2, asoutlined in connection with station 1. The telephone appara tus ofstations 1 and 2 are new the only ones in operative relation to thelimbs 31, 32, of the line.

he brushes 48, 49, now proceed over the contacts and advance theratchets at all the stations to the limit of their forward move ment,after which the brushes 48, 49, engage segments 61, (32, respectively.Segn'ient (ll is connected through the armature and. back contact of arelay 63 to the positive pole of ha ttery 53, While the segment 62 isconnected with the negative pole of said battery.

While the brushes are in engagementwith their segments, the contactbrush 48 is connected through a segment 4 with a contact spring which isconnected with a conductor (36 leading through magnet (53 to thenegative pole of battery 53, a circuit thus being com pleted for relay(33 from the positive pole of battery 53, through the armati r and backcontact of relay (33, segment 6i, brush 48, segment 64, spring (35,conductor 66, including relay 63, to the negative pole of battery Therelay 63 thus serves to interinittently interrupt the circuit extendingfrom the positive pole of battery 53, through the armature and backcontact of relay 63, segment 61, brush 48, linlc conductor 42,

limb 31 of the line, through the bell at each of the sta ions Nos, 1 and2, through springs 20, 21, 22, contact 7 closed by the ratchet While atthe limit of its movement, conductors 37, 38, limb 32 of the line, linkconductor 43, brush 49, segment 62, to the negative pole of battery 53,The bells at the two stations are thus operated. After the arms 48,49,'leave the segments 61, 62, they engage a pair of contacts '67, 58,to cornplete a circuit for the magnet (50, which attracts its armature59 and releases the keys 58. This circuit may be traced as follows: fromone terminal of magnet 60, to switch contact 68, moving contact 49,through call.- ing key 47, to the ring of the cord plug 41, ring oi jack33, line conductor 32, substation conductor 88, line conductor 31,spring of jack 33, tip of plug 41, key 47, moving contact 48, fixedcontact 67, to positive pole of battery 53, through said battery to theother terminal of magnet 60. Suitable means may be provided for stoppingthe brushes at the end of their revolution.

The talking circuit of each substation now extends from. the limb ill ofthe line, couductor conductor 45, to the switch hook, secondary Windingof the induction coil, telephone receiver, conductor 46, through springs20, 22, contacts 7, ratchet 5, conductors 37, to the limb 32 of theline.

r t the end of com'ersation the subscribers operate their handgenerators and keys 3G to altect the display of the clearing outannunciator at the central oliicc, whereupon. the operator actuates herkey 69 to connect the battery 53 with the link conductors 42, 4.3, toapply current to the magnets 1. of all the substations to cause the sameto move their arms 3 to the right and rock the fingers 23 to remove theretaining pawls 28 from ei'igagement with the ratchots 5, permitting therestoration of the apparatus to norma condition. .lhc key 36 may also beused in connection with the generator 30 for emergency calls tron) anyof the substations, even though they be locked out.

The key 70 permits the ringing oi the subscrilusrs bells-subsequent tothe normal ringing period detern'iiued by the automatic switch 50.

I claim:

1. In a switching device, the combination with a ratchet, of a polarizedmagnet rot spoils-ire to current of one polarity for advancing the same,contact mechanism; and spring-actuated means, released by said magnet,in responding to current oi"opposite polarity after advancing theratchet a predetermined distance, for operating said contact. mechanism.l

2. in a switching device, the combination with a ratchet, of. a magnetfor advancing said ratchet, contact springs, a springactuated armnormally tending to close said springs, a lock for said arm normallypre- 'releasing said arm actuated by said magnet venting the operationthereof, and means for after-advancing the ratchet a predetermineddistance.

In a switching device, the combination with a ratchet; of a magnet foradvancing the same, contact springs, an arm, .a spring connectedtherewith, normally tending to move-said arm to crate saidsprings, a.

pivoted lever norrna lv holding 'saidyarm against movement, an means,operated by i said magnet afteradvancingthe ratchet 11 predetermineddistance, for tripping said lever.

4-. Ina switching device, the combination with a ratchet, of a magnet"for advancing the same, Contact springs, a pivoted arm, a

'springn'ormally tending to rock said arm to operate said springs, apivoted lever having a shoulder thereon, a pin carried by saidarm'normally engagingsaidshoulder to prevent movement of the arm, andmechanical means, operated by said magnet after advancing the ratchet apredetermineddia tance, for rocking said lever to disengage saidshoulder and pin.

5. In a switching device, the combination with a ratchet, of a magnetfor advancing said ratchet, contact springs, a lever controlling theoperation and locking thereof, and mechanical means, operated by magnetwhen said ratchet has been advanced a predetermined Idistance, foractuating I said lever 6. In, aswitchingdevice, the combination with aratcheh'of astepping pawl. therefor,

a magnetfor operating said. pawl to advance the ratchet,clmtact-sprlngs, a lever control- .hngthe operation and locking thereof,a dog carried by said lever, and means operated when the ratchet. hasbeen advanced a pre-' determined distance, for bringing said dog"in-position to be operated by said'step'ping pawl to actuate said leven'2. In aswitching device, the combination with a ratchet, of a steppingpawl therefor carrying a pin, a polarized magnet for operatingsaid pawlin response to current of one directionto advance the ratchet, contactsprings, alever controlling the operation and locking thereof, a dogcarried hyisaid leverhaving ahook at the free end thereof, and meansoperated when said ratchet has .oppositepo a I '2. In ,a switchingdevice, the combinat on I with a ratchet, of a magnet for-advancingleverto operate said springs.

notation direction to advance said ratchet, contact spmngs, arockmglever controll ng the operation of said springs, a dop carrled bySaid lever having a hook at its iree end, a disk mounted-1 to move withsaid retchet and havinga notch in its peri phery at a predeteev m nedpoint, a pin carried. hy'said' dog, Ed?

ing upon the periphery. of said dislgend adapted'when theratchet-enddish have adva'nced, predetermined distance to enter said notch andpresent said hook in; position to he engaged by. said. pawl,whenoperated by said ma%net 1nresponding-to current of J rarity;

the same, contact springs, ansarm, a spring connected. therewithnormally tending to move said arm. to operate said. 'springs, a pivotedlever normally holding said arm against movement, a dislemoving; withsaidratchet, means controlled by said disk and magnet, after the ratchethas been advanced" a predetermined distance, for tripping s aid 10. Incswitching device, the combination witha ratchet, o t'a stepping pawltherefor,"

.a polarized magnet for'o crating said'pawl in response to current orone directiom to advance the ratchet, contact springs, a pivoted-arm', aspr ng connected therewith nor ing said arm againstmovement, a dogcarried by saidlever havinga hook at the-free end tl1(lI'G0f, ardiskmoving with said ratchet, and means control-led by said disk, after theratchet has been advanced-a predetermined mally tending to move saidarm: to operate said springs, a pivoted levernormally holdj distance,forbringing said hook in position to he engaged by said stepping pawlwhen said. magnet responds to current of reversepolarity.

11. Ina switching device, the combination with a ratchet, ota magnetfor'advancmg connected therewith normally, tending to move said'arm tooperate said. spli'i g 9 pivoted lever normally holding said arm againstmovement, mechanical means, operated'hy said magnet'atter advancing theratchet a predetermined distance, [for tripping, said lever, and meansoperated when the ratchet returns to normal position for the same,Contact springs, an arm, a spring elfecting'the engagement'of said armand lever.

12. in a switching dev1ce,-the comhlnation with a ratchet, of a magnettor advancing the same contact 5 )iin- 's a ivoted arm a v 9 l") 7 3spring connected with one end thereof and normally'tending to rock saidarm to operate said springs, 21 pivoted lever having a shoulder thereon,a pin carried by said arm normally engaging said shoulder topreventmovement the arm, means operated bysaid magnet after advancingthe ratchet a In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe predetermineddistance, for rocking said my name this 21st day of July A. D, 1906. tolever to disengage said shoulder and pin, an 1 inclined lip upon saidarm, and a pin carried JOHN G. ROBERTS.

by said ratchet adapted When the same returns to normal position toengage said lip Witnesses:

I and effect the rengagement of the pin upon CLARENCE A Comm,

the arm and said shoulder. E. F. BEAUBIEN.

